Thoughts on bilingualism, solutions to learning difficulties and home decor!

I seem to have seen quite a lot over the last week about how amazing little Charlotte Cambridge is. At two years old she can speak two languages! How astounding! From the reactions, you might think she was the first child ever to be able to do such a thing. The only surprising thing is that we are talking about a member of the British royal family.

Here is a link to a very interesting article about bilingualism. It’s quite fascinating how attitudes to bilingualism have changed over time. Well, I think so anyway.

I seem to remember reading that the Cambridges employ a Spanish nanny - British trained and suitable qualified, no doubt - so presumably little Charlotte has learnt to speak Spanish in a perfectly normal way. I wonder if little George also speaks two languages. I also wonder whose decision it was that it was okay for the nanny to speak to her small charge in Spanish; a decision must have been taken, after all. And will her proficiency be maintained as she grows older. We shall see!

On the subject of childcare, I was also reading about the use of sandvests in Germany as a way of helping children with ADHD (attention deficit hyperactivity disorder) sit still and concentrate in lessons. These weighted jackets help the children stop fidgeting, much as if someone were holding their shoulders still, and apparently this has improved their classroom performance. The German school trying out the scheme says wearing the vest is completely voluntary and even children who do not suffer from ADHD sometimes ask to wear them. They maintain that children wearing them do not feel in any way stigmatised. The Sun newspaper here, however, headlines this as punishing children with disabilities. There are concerns that children should not wear them for too long - maybe 40 minutes maximum - because the weight might cause breathing problems or strain their shoulders. However, surely it’s a better solution than dosing children with drugs to keep them quiet, drugs that must impede the learning process?

Interior designer Lauren Coleman apparently puts books on her shelves with the white edges of the pages on view. This is not an attempt to prevent visitors from seeing what she has been reading but a means of avoiding dust-jacket colour clashes! Heaven forfend that the books on your shelves should not tone in with the rest of the decor!

What, I wonder, does she do with those books which have coloured edges to their pages?

Why does she not simply keep the books in another room?

Does she do something similar with CDs?

And does she have any vinyl?

 I bet she would hate our house!